College Basketball: Best Seniors

The talented senior; it’s become an endangered species in college basketball
with the top underclassmen leaving each year for NBA riches. This year’s group
however is loaded with future NBA players in the frontcourt and the backcourt.
These players will be expected to lead their teams deep into March and will be
ready to make an immediate impact on the pro level next fall.

Pick Six: Top Seniors

CHN's Pick Six
series
highlights the Top 6 players
by position, league, and class.

1. Tyler Hansbrough – North Carolina

The best senior in the country, the best player in the country; period. When his
time in Chapel Hill is done, Hansbrough will likely have put together one of the
most impressive 4-year runs at the college level of the last 25 years. He’s in
position to become the ACC’s all-time leading scorer and if his production stays
consistent is almost a shoe in for his third appearance on the AP All-American
team. The only thing that had eluded this kid is a national championship, and
Carolina has never looked this strong in Hansbrough’s time with the program.

2. Darren Collison – UCLA

The country’s best point guard is looking for another trip to the Final Four.
Collison is one of the quickest players around and while he doesn’t have much
trouble getting past defenders into the lane, he is ever more dangerous when
given room to shoot on the perimeter. The floor general is the top returning on
ball defender in the Pac-10 and will be looked at to lead a team of young talent
through a solid conference schedule.

3. AJ Price – Connecticut

Price finely was able to put together a full season for the Huskies and proved
to be a big time player. At points last year (particularly UConn’s 10-game win
streak) the point guard was the second best player in a loaded Big East. Equally
adept at putting up big scoring numbers or setting up teammates with open looks,
Price will once again be one of the top performers in his conference this year,
and a potential All-American at season’s end.

4. Tyrese Rice – Boston College

No player may do more for his team than Rice. Last season he was expected not
only to run the show as a point guard, but was relied on to post big scoring
numbers on a nightly basis. Rice was up to the challenge, and with a weak
support system surrounding him, don’t expect much to change this year. One of
the most versatile scoring guards around, Rice can light it up from the outside,
or break down defenders off the dribble. He shows a nice repertoire of shots
inside the lane which he can get off against larger defenders. With another big
year, Rice will bring his game to the NBA next year.

5. Sam Young – Pittsburgh

Few players saw as big of an improvement from their sophomore to junior seasons
as Young. A physical specimen, Young overpowers defenders and can explode over
most players for thunderous dunks. He made great strides offensively last year,
showing a pretty quick first step and improving his mid-range jumper. His
perimeter shooting proved to be better last year as well; now he needs to work
on his handles in order to be a more complete offensive weapon.

6. Robert Vaden – UAB

This mid-major scoring machine is one of the top shooters in the country,
hitting 40% of his nearly 11 three-point attempts per game. This is a guy who
just knows how to get himself scoring opportunities. More than simply a player
who camps out on the perimeter, Vaden does an excellent job of moving off the
ball and reading defenses. He has a strong upper body which allows him to handle
contact when going to the basket, but he lacks much creativity when taking
defenders off the dribble.

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About Joey Whelan

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Background

Joey is a student at the University of Maryland where he is the play-by-play voice for the Terps football and men's basketball teams on the student radio station WMUC Sports. In addition he has several years of experience working as a
scout and writer for DraftExpress covering high school, college and international basketball. His work has appeared on SLAMOnline, Rivals and Yahoo Sports in addition to other sites. When you can't find him, chances are he's obsessing over mid-major college basketball.